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A Sarnia-based citizen group against animal cruelty is planning a protest at the Chatham courthouse Thursday, in response to three people accused of running a dog-fighting ring.

The protest, organized by the Joe the Cat group, is planned for 9 a.m. at the courthouse the same day one of the accused, Kim Robert, 39, is up for an appearance in bail court.

Her co-accused — John Robert, 43, and Michel Gagnon, 41 — have already been released on bail.

All three face animal cruelty charges

They were arrested Oct. 9 at a rural property west of Chatham after a joint investigation by Chatham-Kent police and the Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals into an alleged dog-fighting ring.

Reports preceding a publication ban on evidence presented in court note about 40 dogs were seized from a Morris Line property, along with a large quantity of evidence consistent with training canines to fight.

A petition titled, 'Mission No Mercy,' is also being circulated by the Joe The Cat group, seeking the “harshest penalty possible” for the trio, if they're found guilty.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 3,000 people had signed the petition, said Chatham native and Sarnia resident Michelle Nicholson, a volunteer with the Joe the Cat group — named for a cat found in Bright's Grove shot 17 times with a pellet gun in early 2014.

Nicholson said she believes people who commit offences against animals, like organizing and running a dog-fighting ring, are capable of more violent behaviour.

“If you can do that to a helpless little animal, what's your limit?” she asked, noting she finds the notion of organizing and running a dog-fighting ring horrifying.

“What's equally sickening is there is (an) audience for it,” she said.

Plans are to present the petition to the Crown Attorney's Office Wednesday at 3 p.m., Nicholson said.

More information is available via the Joe the Cat Sarnia Facebook page.